Sierra Leone

(RSF/IFEX) – In a 10 September 1999 letter to President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, RSF expressed its deep concern about his government’s decision to shift the Public Emergency Regulation into a new law, containing various articles which are in total contradiction with Sierra Leone’s international commitments to freedom of expression. RSF noted that the organisation “does […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – ARTICLE 19 has written to President Kabbah to add its voice to those who have expressed grave concern about the prolonged detention without charge and threatened deportation of Emmanuel Sanossi, editor of “The Reporter” newspaper and a citizen of the Republic of Cameroon. Sanossi has been in detention since 26 August 1999 […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ urgently requested additional information from President Kabbah about the reasons for the deportation order served on the morning of 3 September 1999 on Emmanuel Sanossi, the editor of “The Reporter newspaper” in Freetown and a national of Cameroon. **Updates IFEX alert of 3 September 1999** In a telephone conversation with CPJ, Deputy […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a 3 September 1999 letter to Minister of Justice Solomon Begewa, RSF protested the detention of a journalist in Freetown. RSF urged the minister “to use his influence to ensure that Emmanuel Sanossi is released immediately.” Robert Ménard, RSF’ secretary-general added: “Naturally, your government has the right to publish a response when […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ announcement of a special report on Sierra Leone: FREETOWN 1999: JOURNALISM IN THE KILLING FIELDS On January 6, 1999, fighters from the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) entered Freetown, Sierra Leone and launched a terror campaign. The rebels systematically murdered, mutilated, and raped thousands of civilians. Journalists, who were […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 submission to the Government of Sierra Leone on the Independent Media Commission Bill: SUBMISSION BY ARTICLE 19 TO THE GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE ON THE INDEPENDENT MEDIA COMMISSION BILL, NO. 99 OF 1999 ARTICLE 19 notes with interest that the above Bill has recently been tabled […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is deeply concerned about a number of attacks on the press in Freetown in recent days. An ECOMOG officer was directly involved in one attack. In another case, an ECOMOG officer stood by and did nothing to intervene. On 20 August 1999, an ECOMOG officer calling himself Major Anthony threatened Jonathan Leigh, […]

(RSF/IFEX) – In a 24 August 1999 letter to Minister of Internal Affairs and Local Government Charles Margai, RSF protested the threats made to two journalists in Freetown. RSF asked the minister “to use your authority to thoroughly investigate the aggression and condemn the individuals concerned.” Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general, added: “Our organisation urges […]

(CJFE/IFEX) – CJFE has learned from the International League for Human Rights in New York that the Sierra Leone parliament is expected to vote soon on a controversial media bill, released earlier this week, which proposes to create a media council empowered to suspend or revoke media licenses, and to impose prohibitive fines of up […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – Three journalists were among the remaining hostages released by rebels in Sierra Leone, the last of whom were released on Tuesday 10 August 1999. The three were Ade Campbell and Chernor Bangura, reporter and cameraman, respectively, for the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS) radio and television, and Pasco Temple, a reporter for Star […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – Former military junta soldiers in Sierra Leone released a journalist and one other hostage on the night of Thursday 6 August 1999. The two freed hostages were among forty people kidnapped near the capital Freetown on Wednesday 5 August. **Updates IFEX alert of 5 August 1999** The journalist, local Reuters reporter Christo Johnson, […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – Four journalists were among a group of people taken hostage by Sierra Leone rebels on Wednesday 4 August 1999, in the Okra Hills some forty miles east of the capital Freetown. The four journalists are Reuters reporter Christo Johnson, Pasco Temple, a journalist with Star Radio in Liberia, Ade Campbell of the Sierra […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – CPJ is welcoming the release from jail, on the weekend of 31 July 1999, of four journalists who were imprisoned on charges of treason in August 1998. **Updates IFEX alerts of 29 July 1999, 20 September, 27 August, 25 August, 14 April and 1 April 1998** The four are Jipu Felix George, Dennis […]

> (RSF/IFEX) – Jipo Felix George, Dennis Ayodele Smith, Mildred Hancilles and Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, four journalists who were sentenced to death for collaborating with the Armed Forces Ruling Council (AFRC) military junta, have been released after spending 200 days in jail. George was the director-general of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service (SLBS), Smith was […]

(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF information summary regarding several previously disappeared journalists in Sierra Leone: **Updates IFEX alerts of 4 May, 23 April and 11 February 1999** Christopher Coker: Captured on 6 January 1999 by a group of rebels, Christopher Coker was detained by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) for 171 days. Accused […]

(RSF/IFEX) – The following is an RSF press release: Rebels had systematic policy of elimination of journalists: **For background information, see IFEX alerts** An RSF delegation was in Guinea from 25 to 29 June 1999, where it met with 20 Sierra Leonian journalists who are seeking refuge there. The testimony provided by these journalists confirmed […]